Happy Sunday everyone! It’s been a busy week for me but the exciting news is my new blog design is up and running! Many thanks to Sam at Temptation Designs for the absolutely beautiful job she did! There are a few things to iron out but nothing major. If you do notice anything though, please let me know. I apologize for the reposting of my posts in google reader. When it recognized the blog had been moved it reposted a bunch of posts through the reader. As you can see I posted a few giveaways yesterday – I didn’t want to post as we were moving the blog so they all got done yesterday. Be sure to check them out if you missed the posts yesterday – there was Primacy by J.E. Fishman, The Sixes by Kate White, and Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos which I’m dying to read!
One big change is that giveaways are now listed on a separate page. The hope is to keep the blog cleaner looking and much less cluttered. Plus it just makes things easier to find. When you click on the blog you’ll see in the left corner there is a link to get to the current giveaways. I have a few other things I’ll do along the way but this is it – I won’t be changing my blog anymore. This one is here to stay and I love it so I hope you all will too!
Well I don’t know about where you live but summer is on its way out here. We went, in a matter of a day, from really hot temperatures for our area to really cold. It was a hard blow to take. Now they’re saying it’s going to get hot again so who knows. All I know is it isn’t going to be long before I’ll be complaining about all the snow again. lol. I have to say though I’m anxious to see how Sam reacts to the snow this year. I do have a few pictures of the last of our flowers to share though – the sweetpeas did good this year and other than the marigolds have really lasted, not to mention they smell great!
On the reading front I haven’t been doing the best. I haven’t been doing the best on visiting all your blogs either and I apologize. Things still aren’t going the best for me but I’ll work through it and get back to the business of visiting you all. Right now I’m finishing up Megan’s Way by Melissa Foster for a book review on Tuesday and if it keeps going like it has been then I’m really liking it. Truthfully I have quite a few books started but haven’t been getting them finished. This week on the blog is a busy one – here’s the lineup:
Monday – Guest Post/Giveaway with Liza Gyllenhaal, author of So Near
Tuesday – Review of Megan’s Way by Melissa Foster
Wednesday – Guest Post/Giveaway with Melissa Foster, author of Megan’s Way
Thursday – Review of Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (loved this book!)
Friday – Review of The Legacy by Katherine Webb
Wow, I’m tired just reading that. It sure is a lot of reading for someone who doesn’t feel much like reading. Not to mention I have Home to Woefield by Susan Juby to read for my book club. I guess I had really better get busy!
Let’s see now what has Sammy been up to – well really not a lot. He’s still a bundle of energy and when you don’t feel well he is impossible to keep up to. He goes and goes – just like that energizer bunny on tv. My biggest issue with him right now is listening. He listens when he wants to and the rest of the time you can forget it. He’s especially bad on walks – he’s really bad when he’s got his nose to the grindstone and sniffing. It almost takes a semi truck to move him. Also, his newest thing is growling (and not very nicely) at people to get attention. Those of you with dogs – have you ever gone through this? What did you do? I never had these issues with Buddy. When I wanted him to come I just had to gently tug his leash. I guess Sam may get better as he gets older. I sure hope so anyway. Otherwise he really is the sweetest dog; always ready with the kisses and cuddles. I can’t believe how much I love him especially as I wasn’t sure I could love another pet after Buddy but as time goes on you find that you sure can! I’ve got a few pictures of Sam to share with today…
I had to share this picture. This is what Sam does each and every time I take out the camera. He hears it turn on and off he goes. I could get so many adorable pictures if he would just stay put!
Ha, ha, ha – I have another of mommy’s socks in my mug. I really drive her crazy stealing all of her socks but hey, they are my favorite toy. Besides who could really resist this sweet and adorable face I have? Of course, nobody!
In case you were wondering this is how I get mommy’s socks. When she’s not paying attention I get one end in my teeth really good and I pull with all my might. Then I make sure to go bury the sock in my piles of toys in case she gets the idea that she can put them back on. Hee, hee, hee.
Well that’s it for this week. I hope you’re all enjoying your weekend. What’s everyone up to and what are you reading – anything so good that you can’t put it down? Have a great week everyone!
I can’t wait to read Falling Together either!
Love the new blog design.
I love the new look, Dar! Your sweet peas did do well, they look gorgeous. Home to Woefield is a total winner, I loved it. Too funny for words and yet there is a lot of depth to the characters. I think you’ll like it a lot.
Sorry to hear things aren’t tip-top with you. Hope it gets better soon.
{{{hugs}}} to you and Sammy.
Kaye, I’m glad you like the new blog design. I’m really happy with it. I’m going to start Home to Woefield in the next day or so and those who have read it, liked it, so it should be an easy read. Hugs to you to from both me and the Sammy Bear.
That is so funny that Sammy steals your socks! Its kinda like Martina jumping in any box that is put down. It only takes her about 10 seconds before she is in it.
You know you are always in my thoughts and prayers and I always hope for the best for you and your family. I think you are my oldest (and I don’t mean by age) bloggy friend!
Take care babe.
Love the new blog look!
Wendy, you wouldn’t think it was so funny if Sammy were stealing your socks all the time. lol. I thought it was real cute when he was a baby – not so much now especially with winter coming again. Thanks for the prayers – you know how much I luv ya! Glad you like the new look too!
I love the new blog design and of course your puppy pictures are adorable as always! 🙂
Marie, thanks much. I’m glad you like the new design and Sammy, of course!
I love the new blog look! It’s really sharp. I love the colors…very soothing. I wish I were brave enough to update mine. Sammy is cute as ever. Those sweet peas are gorgeous! Hang in there Dar! I hope things get better soon.
Beth (bookaholicmom)- glad you like the new blog design! I thought the same thing about the colors. I wasn’t brave enough to do the blog on my own, plus I could never have done such a good job. That’s why I hired Sam. lol.
You new blog design is beautiful. It is so neat! I love the header as well–it’s you! It speaks personality.
I think Sammy has you wrapped around his little paws so he does what he wants and knows you’ll never be mad for long…LOL LOL
Have a great week Dar.
Diane, glad you like the new design. I loved it the first time I saw it. I do agree – Sammy most definitely has me wrapped around his little paws. lol.
Wish I had smelly-pc to smell those lovely looking sweet peas.
Great to see more of Sammy.
Am liking the new blog design 🙂
have a good week
carol
Carol, you aren’t the first person to want a smelly pc to smell those flowers. I can tell you that they smelled wonderful. Glad you like the new blog design!
Love the new blog look as well. It really looks nice! As for the reading and commenting, don’t stress about it. It will come with time and hopefully everything will work itself out for you. Love the pictures of Sammy as well…too cute! Hope you have a great week Dar!
Sam, glad you like the new blog look. Yes, I know things eventually work out. I just need my reading and blogging mojo back a bit more. lol.
What a gorgeous new blog design! I LOVE IT! Wonderful. I’m glad that you are satisfied and you’ve moved it. It feels so good to have all that accomplished I’m sure. Not sure what to do about growling. I never had that problem with Charlee.
Serena, thank you so much! It does feel good to have finally made the move and I’m really happy with it all.
Our weather did the same thing! The high temperatures were 30 degrees colder in a span of 3 days. Coop and I have been walking at the park and he’s fine if people pass by. If someone stops to talk to me he starts barking at them – and wagging his tail. I just explain that he’s trying to protect me, which he is. After a bit he’ll stop and try to get them to pet him.
Janel, Sammy is the same. He just wants attention. He’s just going about it all wrong. People are scared of him instead.
Hey Dar:
Sammy is too cute and so is the new blog look – love it! And it makes me realize how much work I need to do on mine…someday….
Luanne, thanks so much! I know what you mean – I figured after more than three years I should finally do something permanent. lol.
Wow, what a difference in design! I love it! And those flowers are so amazing – I couldn’t wait to read about them so I could read how you MADE them! I was astounded to find out that those gorgeous and perfect-looking colorful flowers were REAL! :–)
Jill, I’m glad you like the new blog design – it is great if I must say so myself. lol. A few people have commented on how perfect the flowers were. They were lovely. I picked the last bunch yesterday but they aren’t as nice as these were.
Wow, I love the new blog design. It looks great! 🙂
Beautiful Sweetpeas. I really enjoyed Call Me Irresistible too. Give that rascal Sammy a squeeze for me!
Nise, Sammy has given you one of his famous slurps!
I love how quickly this new blog of yours loads. Beautiful design. Love the image of you reading! Good move! Oh, the sweet peas took me right back to my grandmother’s yard. They were her babies. Yes, I can smell them in my memory. Hope things will straighten out for you soon! And Sammy just cracks me up and makes me smile!
Linda Jacobs, I’m glad you like the blog design! I really like it! Sweetpeas and Evening Scented Stocks – those are the flowers that always bring back memories for me. I know how you love to see Sammy!
The blog looks cute and I love the blog button 😀
Thanks Linda, glad you like the blog and the button!
Those flowers are gorgeous!! Love them..now I wish the screen was a scratch and sniff!! 😀
I would just keep being firm with him and telling him no when he does the growling thing. It works with our big dog Lily and every once in a while Daisy thinks she’s going to start barking and I’m all over her!! Remember, make sure he knows who the Alpha dog is…sometimes you might have to roll him over and put him in a submissive state so that he remembers that you are the boss! My hubby has had to do that with Lily on more than one occasion!! Daisy on the other hand is always rolling over 😀
Staci, scratch and sniff would be perfect, wouldn’t it! Then we could smell the flowers and the yummy food people post about. That’s exactly what I am doing with Sam. I just keep saying very firmly no and pull him away. I just hope he doesn’t get any bigger because he’s already stronger than me. Sammy, for all his ornery behaviour, bares his belly to me all the time! I can roll him over and put my face in his tummy so he easily submits – it’s only out on the walks that he’s particularly bad.
Your blog looks fantastic! I really like it! Summer left us too, this week, anyway, The next 5 – 7 days are supposed to be in the 70s, not bad. I don’t believe we’re donw with the hot weather, though, it seems too early. Do you prefer the heat or the cooler weather?!
The flowers in the photos are so beautiful and look so perfect I honestly thought they might be the professionally made, expensive fake flowers! Gorgeous especially those colors! Thank s for the pics!
Awww, Sammy is adorable…you know I just love him! Cats never listen! They have such selective hearing. You should chat with Jenners, I’m sure she’ll have tons of questions for you now that she has a new little fur ball! The two of you are going to make my explode over the cuteness factor! lol
Amy, I’m glad you like the new blog design! I prefer right in the middle of hot and cold in terms of the weather. That’s when I feel the best. I’m not looking forward to the frigid temps that are coming. LOL – I think someone else has mentioned that the flowers looked so perfect that they seemed fake. I think it was that vase that brought out the vibrant colors. Sammy definitely has selective hearing! LOL.
Sammy is adorable like always Dar. That funny that he pulls your socks off. Diego steals ours if he sees them lying around and they always end up in his bed…lol.
The flowers are lovely 🙂 And I love the new blog look!!
Happy reading and enjoy your week. I’m currently reading a memoir called ‘It’s Hard Not To Hate You’ and really enjoying it.
Naida, Sammy buries the socks in his bed too. lol. It’s funny how they’re alike in that. The sweetpeas were great and they smelled so wonderful! Glad you like the blog look!
Did you move away from blogger?! Looks like WordPress comment form? I LOVE the new look and especially the button and girl in the corner. I’d love something like that for my blog but not sure how to go about getting the image.
I’m sorry things aren’t going well, but I hope that everything is OK. Sammy, as always, is adorable and the sweatpeas look amazing! Thinking of you…
Trish, yes I moved to WordPress. I like it and it’s easy enough to use. Thanks for the compliments on the blog. I’m glad everyone seems to like it. I’ll have to email you one of these days and visit your blog to see some new pics of Elle.
Darlene, I love your new blog look!
Sherri, thanks. I’m glad you like the new look!
Love the new look of your blog, Dar!
Sammy is cute as always, and those flowers are lovely! I hope you’ve a great week ahead!
Melody, thanks so much!
What a fun blog design, Darlene! I have considered hiring someone to do mine but I am always hesitant because of the cost. And with my sporadic blogging, I don’t know if it would be worth it.
I am sorry you aren’t at your best. It has been a difficult time all around, hasn’t it? I am glad Sam can make you smile though. He’s adorable.
I hope things get better for you. I am thinking of you, my friend.
Wendy, glad you like the design! For me, it was finally worth it to get it done. I’m not going to be quitting to blog as far as I know and I really wanted to get something permanent finally. It has been a difficult time for a lot of us but yes Sam definitely helps me get through. I’m thinking about you and hoping things get easier for you too Wendy although it will take time. Hugs my friend.
I LOVE the new look, Dar! Your flowers are gorgeous – so perfect, I thought they were a craft project at first glance. Sorry to hear things aren’t at their best now and hope improvement is coming soon. Sammy, as always, is adorable!
JoAnn, glad you like the new design. I’m hearing that a lot about the flowers, they sure were beautiful.
Crisp, clean new look, I love it and I can almost smell those lovely sweet peas! Sammy is quite a character, funny how so many dogs have a foot fetish — our dog doesn’t chew shoes but she loves to sleep with them. Not a good thing when you can only spot one shoe, have five minutes to get out the door and can’t remember which of Angie’s favourite sleeping spots you last seen her snoozing in!
Things haven’t been the best around here lately either, my children and husband and I are all fine but my Dad is in the hospital. Gave us quite a scare there for awhile but he’s on the mend now. Still, computer time is going to be sporadic at best for quite awhile … I’ll pop by when I can though.
Wanda, glad you like the new design. That’s cute that your dog only sleeps with the shoes, Sam would chew them up. Sorry to hear things haven’t been good with your dad but glad to hear he’s on the mend. If you need to talk, feel free to email me.
I love the new look. Sammy is too cute!
Carol, thanks!
The new look is great and your Sammy is so cute! I’m also looking forward to reading Marisa de los Santos’ latest book. (I requested a copy, so fingers crossed that I get it!)
Avis, thanks. Sammy knows he’s cute too! I’m looking forward to Marisa’s new book too but I really need to read her latest one first!
Love the new look! Yes it was very clean and simple. Great choices and I think it’s totally you.
You grew those flowers? they are gorgeous. Beautiful indeed. Yes, summer is over but I’m ready for fall for sure! Give some pets to Sammy for me 🙂
Have a good week.
Hello Dar,
Your blog looks outstanding. I am glad your cartoon lady has hips. It is so nice to see you, Sammy, and yes, buddy too.
Love, Toni
Oooh, I love the new look!
I’m behind in posting but I join the club and say the new design looks great!
My dad’s mom lived with us and she used to plant sweet peas every year. She had them on a wire trellis that they climbed up. I’ve never had good luck growing them myself.
Sam looks adorable as always. Do you walk him with a collar or a harness? There is supposed to be some special harness that helps with dogs that pull alot. You might check out Mother Knows Best by Carole Lea Benjamin, I liked that book on dog training.
I have recently finished up Dark Water Rising by Marian Hale, and the Spirit Woman by Margaret Coel. I am listening to Doc: a Novel by Mary Doria Russell now.
Wish you the best,always.
I love your new design.
When Sammy growls to get attention, you must ignore him because responding reinforces his growling behavior. Growling = attention = more growling.